July 2, 2007 - Welcome to the mind of Clive Barker, where supernatural powers and the latest in conventional warfare may still not be enough to get you out alive. Jericho is the term given to the team of seven members all equipped with different weapons, as well as different special abilities. We begin our journey as a single character, but soon gain the ability to swap through any of the seven to use each player accordingly.

Jericho allows us to give the basic commands while controlling the other Jerichos from one players standpoint (move forward, hold position, regroup etc.) but also gives us access to play from any one character we choose, be it the exorcist (to enchant weapons), the blood mage (a spell caster who, uh, cuts herself to unleash these powers), the two healers (who keep your time alive time after time), or the telekinetic (who moves objects with her mind).

Strategy will play a large part in this game in at least two ways as you lead the Jerichos to the heart of darkness to save all mankind. Like all war games, you'll want your machine gunner in front and your sniper in back, but with this team, keeping your healers in a safe position needs to be thought about as well, seeing as only they can revive dead team members. You do have the power to play as any character; however, you have no say in forcing them to use special powers remotely, as you can tell them how to move. They will however, perform their specials automatically, based on the circumstance. Clive Barker's Jericho is a first person shooter, as you may have already guess, based on the idea that the seven Jerichos hold the fate of the world in their hands while advancing toward an ancient evil in the city of Al-Khali.

We've been promised easy control amongst the Jerichos via the pressing of two buttons, so the switch to and from a character should not be a difficult process. We'll also be able to combine the attacks of more than one Jericho later in the game for a greater, more damaging effect. Expect to face precious opponents lacking in skin, but prevailing in stench. Think a man nailed to a cross to suffer for eternity (see Clive Barker's Jericho trailer) or perhaps Voldo's (Soul Calibur) brother, or much of his family for that matter. Though they may be hard to look at, don't expect a free moment without them. The trailer may not have been hugely packed much information as to what the Jericho's mission in the game is, or how actual game play will look, but it certainly opened your eyes as to how the visuals will play out. It will be hard to predict, as of now, whether the character switch will be as smooth as promised, and we find that much of the games value and replay value may rest on this aspect of the game itself; but given the level of Clive Barker's involvement, as well as the beauty of the visuals so far, we can expect that this attribute will be up to par.

By Devin Finley
CCC Freelance Writer

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